Lock-joint rail.



E. L. SWINDLER.

LOCK JOINT RAIL.

APPLICATION FILED 8EPT.2,1913.

1,095,243. Patented May 5, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

E. L. SWINDLER.

LOOK JOINT RAIL.

APPLICATION IILBD SEPT. 2, 1913.

Patented May 5, 1914,

EDGAR L. SEINDLER, GE PALESTINE, TEXAS.

LOCK-JGINT BAIL,

Application file September lock 3' int rail and 2 reiationto'a device for sethe rails forming-a railway to new and useful egg i 1e inv is to provide 231 and solid jeint'eonnecting raiiroad w ich wiii'not weakened. or broken of thepa'ssag of cars thereover.

i object of the invention isto re: a smooth joint which will eliminate t the j oint.

A further feature of the invention re sides in the simplicity of construction whereby the adjacent ends of, the rails may be easily corniected or taken apart.

A still further feature of the in anti-euresides in the provision of a modified form of joint whereby a broken rail may berea dily replaced in the track without taking up the adjacent rails. 7

Vi the above and other objects in view,- the inv :tion has particular relation to certain novel features of construction and a1 rangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawingsgwherein Figure 1 is a plan view of the rail'joint connecting the adjacent ends of two 0on1 tiguous rails. Fig. 2 is a side view thereof. i

Fig. shows the adjacent ends of two con necting rails, with the splice removed. Fig. 4L shows a side elevation of the splice in re versed position relative to the'rails, as shown in Fig. 3.v Fig; 5 shows a sectional endview of the ordinary forxnof rail. Fig. 6 shows a. sectional end view of myimproved-form of connection,- taken tha'mgigh the splice. Fig. 7 shows one form of lcckin "-wedge'employed. Fig. 8 shows a modi ed form of- Specification of Letters he knocking of the ear wheels passing over Serial No. 787,819.

-. s, wherein like numerals of referto the railsconnected by my improved of 30ml; and the numeral 3 refersto 1,115 in forming the .joint, the adjacent ends of vthe rails, each have a lengthwise section cut away, as shown in Fig. 3, said sections being cut away along the axial line of each rail from the ree end back-a suitahlefdistance and then along a transverse line to the sideof the rail. The splice 3, in general contour, is of a'form to fitinto the cut space and supply the parts of the rail which have been removed. The inner sideof the splicefi has alongitudinal dovetailed groove 4 and the adjacent sides of the rail ends have longitudinal dove-tailed ribs 5 and 6, which fit into the, groove of said splice and lock the ends of therail together. In the formation of the joints-the rail 1 may bemoved endwise relative to the splice, the

rib 5 sliding into the groove efuntilthe end of the splice abuts against the-shoulder 7 of said rail. The rib 6 of. rail 2 should then be s arted into the opposite end "of the groove- 4 and said rail 2 inforced endwise' until the ends efthe rails 1 and .2 meet. Thesplice 3 is of sufiicient length to abut against the shoulder 8 of railQatthe same time that the rail ends come together.

. 'In order to lock the rails againstseparation, transverse dove-tail grooves" 9 and 10 have been cut across the tread of the rails 'andspliee, near the ends otsai'd splice and wedges 11] are then driven transversely through said grooves. and the ends ofsaid wedges are thenspread,ras shown, so as to secure them-in position,

Patentedhiayfi, 1 914.

mgnate similar parts in each of the ihenumerals 1 and 2 refer-,respecsplice employed-in my preferred form.

The modified forin of the device, as shown in FigsVB; 9 a ino is provided primarily tonnes in casela rail. should become broken. If. a rail should-become broken, it-wou-ld be impossible to suhstituteone and join it to the adjacent. rails byimea'ns of, joints, such as shownin Figs. 1'to 6inclusivqsoin the case of a broken rail, two rails'are-taken up from the track; one of which is the broken railv and these rails are replaced with two rails, the abutting: ends of'which have been made and constructed, as shown in Figs. 8 to 'LOincLusiVe, and which will be described in detail hereinafter. Theothei ends of these, tworails are 'formedcinfthe manner shown in Figs. 1, 3'faiid4 and are joined to the abutting rails in the manner hereinbefore described.

The construction of the modified form of joint is as follows: The outer sides of the webs at the abutting ends of the rails 12 and 13 are provided with dove-tailed ribs 14 and 15 in perfect alinement, and a splice 16 is provided whose inner side is of a contour to conform to and fit against the side of the rail end. This splice is of a length equal to the combined lengths of the ribs 14 and 15 and its inner side has a lengthwise dovetailed groove 17. In forming this joint the abutting rail ends are brought together so as to bring the ribs 14 and 15 into alinement and the splice is then placed in position so as to bring its groove into alinemcnt with said ribs. wise until the ribs are seated in said groove. In this form of joint transverse dove-tailed grooves 18 and 19 are also cut across the treads of the rails and spliw, as is the case in the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and wedges 20 dove-tailed in cross section, are secured in said transverse grooves, the ends of said wedges being bent over and spread, as shown, so as to lock them against displacement.

The rail webs at the ends of the rail, in both forms of the joint, should be made somewhat thicker web, so as to allow material for the construction of the dove-tailed tongue, and the splice should be sutliciently heavy and contain sufficient material to permit of a strong dove-tailed groove therei- The modified form of joint, as shown in Figs 8, 9 and 10, while it will ordinarily be used in repairing track and in the replacement of broken rails, may also be used generally in track construction.

What I claim is l. A device of the character described, consisting of two rails, whose ends abut, adovetailed rib integral with the side of each rail end, said ribs being in alinement, a splice whose inner side has a dove-tailed groove in which said ribs are seated, the tread of the abutting end of each rail having a transverse groove, said grooves extending also through said splice and wedges in said grooves for locking said splice" and rails against relative lengthwise movement.

2. A device of the character described consisting of two rails whose ends abut together, a rib integral with the side of each rail and arranged in alinement, at said rail ends, a splice whose inner side is provided wit-h a lengthwise groove. in which said ribs seat,

the tread of the abuttin end of each rail having a transverse groove, said grooves extending also through said splice and wedges Copies cf than the usual form of.

I l l I The splice is then moved lengthwhose inner in said grooves for locking said rails to said splice so as to prevent their lengthwise moveinent relative thereof.

3. A device of the character described consisting of two alined rails, a ribcarried by theadjacent end of each rail, said ribs being arranged in alinement, .a splice whose inner side has a lengthwise groove in which said ribs seat, transverse dove-tailed grooves extending across said rails and splice and wedges, dove-tailed in cross section, in said transverse grooves which lock the rails against lengthwise movement relative to the splice.

l. A device of the character described consisting of two rails, whose ends abut, the abutting end of each rail having a lengthwise section cut away along the axial line of each rail, a splice in general contour of a form to fit into the cutaway space and supply the parts of a rail which have been removed, the inner side of said splice having a longitudinal dove-tailed groove, dovetailed ribs integral with the sides of the rail ends adjacent said splice andfitting into said groove and locking said splice to said rail ends, saidrails and splice having transverse grooves across their tread and locking wedges in said grooves.

5. A device of the character described consisting of two rails whose ends abut, a rib carried by the end of each rail and-integral with the web thereof, said ribs being arranged in alinement, :1 splice whose inner side is of a contour to conform to the sides of said rails, said splice being provided with a lengthwise groove along its inner side in which said ribs seat, the tread of said rails and splice having transverse grooves and wedges in said grooves for locking said rails and splice against lengthwise movement relative to each other.

6. A device of the character described consisting of two rails whose ends abut, a. dove-.

tailed rib integral with the web of each rail end, said ribs being in alinement a splice side is of a contour to conform with the sides of said rails, said splice being provided with a lengthwise groove along its inner side, in which said ribs seat, transverse dovetailed grooves extending across said rails and splice, and wedges dovetailed in cross section in said transverse grooves which lock the rails against lengthwise movementrelative to the splice.

In testimony whereof I have name to this specification in the two subscribing witnesses.

EDGAR L. SVINDLER.

signed my presence of .V i tnesses J. F. SIMON, Geo. P. SIMON.

this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 0: Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

